Microsoft's new Bing search engine went live today, replacing both MSN.com and Live.com search (they redirect to the new site) and we took an early look at the new beta to see if it matches up with Microsoft's pre-launch hype.
Our earliest feelings are that Microsoft have really hit the spot this time - Bing.com looks just right and returns exactly the results you'd expect from a serious Google competitor.
First of all, they've taken the notion of Universal Search and then really added to the experience. Google searches always feel corporate clinical where the new Bing results pages look like they've been prepared by people for people.
And it's not just the easy-on-the-eye image intensive look of the whole thing - there's some really innovative new functionality going on under the hood.
Take a very simple search like 'Amazon'. Google returns the usual bland SERPs page:-
whereas Bing does a lot more:-
Notice the well laid out Site Links underneath the meta description, the Customer service number and particularly the 'Search within amazon.com' form - those kinds of extras are worth real money in the pocket for the company concerned.
Now let's look at a search for 'amazon river' (the first page of results on both sites for 'Amazon' was just for Amazon.com!). Google first up once again:-
That is one boring looking page for what is a very visual subject. Let's look again at how Bing does it:-
Not only is it a lot better on the eye but there is so much extra useful information and functionality on the page.
First of all, the related searchable images are at the top of the page - just what you'd expect for the subject concerned. Then there's the 'Related Searches' on the left, rather than hidden in a search form dropdown. Look also at the results returned by the two search engines - same sites, slightly different order with Wikipedia top on both. Overall, a lot richer experience on the Bing page.
The site returns its results fast too - every bit as quick as Google. And it doesn't stop there - there are some nice touches to be found in the text results themselves; if you move your mouse pointer cursor to the right of any particular result, for example, an extra pullout appears on the page offering a page extract, related links and an additional page link:-
Now that's neat!
This is just an initial preview of the new Bing search engine from Microsoft but the company have really hit a home run with this one. Google have some serious competition at last.
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